Even with cheap gas, motorists have been migrating away from traditional engine choices, and that’s convinced Ford to pump $145 million into the Cleveland Engine Plant producing one of its key alternatives, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine used in a variety of models such as the big F-150 pickup.

Ford plans to make the turbocharged engine – which serves as an alternative to traditional V-8s – available on a wider line-up of vehicles in the coming years. It’s taking a similar approach with other members of the EcoBoost family which include engines as small as a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder package.

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“Ford customers have embraced EcoBoost’s unbeatable combination of power and efficiency, with more than 60% of F-150 customers choosing trucks powered by EcoBoost,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford President of The Americas Joe Hinrichs, said in a statement.

The Chinese venture could be the breakthrough test for the promising opoc engine.

Detroit-based powertrain company EcoMotors has landed a $200 million deal to produce its new opoc motor in China, a deal that initially will see the “breakthrough” engine design used for stationary generator applications – though the U.S. company’s chairman says off-road and commercial use, as well as automotive applications could follow.

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Short for opposed piston-opposed cylinder, the opoc has generated significant interest in recent years because of compact size, low emissions and high efficiency. EcoMotors claims it can be as much as 50% more efficient than an advanced turbo-diesel, though the strategic agreement with Zhongding Power, based in Zuancheng, China, may be the real test to prove that advantage in the real world rather than a laboratory test bench.

Zhongding plans to begin producing its version of the opoc in 2014 and hopes to have capacity in place for up to 150,000 of the engines annually – projecting potential revenues of “over US $1 billion.”

GM will add several variants of the new Ecotec family, including a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder.

General Motors will invest $332 million to gear up four plants to launch an array of new powertrain components, including all-new 3-, 4- and 6-cylinders engines, as well as a new 8-speed transmission.

In a complex announcement, the maker also revealed plans to boost a previous investment at two Michigan plants by $46 million. In all, the new and expanded programs will bring to $1.8 billion the money GM has committed to updating six Midwest powertrain facilities since just 2009.

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“We are investing in technologies and manufacturing capabilities that produce high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles and components for our customers,” said Diana Tremblay, vice president of GM North American Manufacturing.